Combined corset and abdominal belt.



No. 639,078. Patented Dec. l2, I899.

E. MERRILLEES.

COMBINED CORSET AND ABDOMINAL BELT.

(Application filed June 9, 1898.)

No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

c? M XM x540 ham 3% No. 639,078. v Pa tented Dec. I2, I899.

E. MERRILLEES.

COMBINED CORSET AND ABDOMINALBELT.

' (Application filed June 9, 1898.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

.a line with the sacrum.

ELIZABETH MERRILLEES, OF MELBOURNE, VICTORIA.

COMBINED CORSET AND ABDOMINAL BELT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 639,078, dated December 12, 1899.

Application filed June 9, 1898. erial No. 683,032. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that LELIZABETH MERRILLEES, stationer, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at No. 224 Swanston street, Melbourne, in the British Colony of Victoria, have invented an Improved Combined Oorset and Abdominal Belt, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has been designed for the purpose of providing a combined corset and abdominal belt in which the whole of the beneficial effects of abdominal belts are retained and in which the pressure arising from the use of such belts is sustained by the sacrum instead of being concentrated over or constricting the region of the kid neys, as hitherto.

It consists in providing a properly-fitting long corset the back of which must extend to the lowest part of the sacrum and should for the purpose of giving a proper and comfortable fit have inserted in it on each side of the lacing parallel strips of whalebone, two only of which should reach to the bottom of the corset, the others stopping short at a gusset let into each side, so as to fit comfortably over the hips. By this means the weight of the abdomen is transmitted through the belt and is supported from the sacrum, thereby avoiding pain or injury to the kidneys or other movable parts of the abdomen and soovercoming one great objection to the use of ordinary combined corsets and belts. To the lower part of this corset an abdominal belt, constructed as hereinafter described, is attached by sewing or suitable fastenings. The precise point of attachment may vary somewhat; but it should be at that part of the corset which covers the back of the hips and in The belt should be made in three parts-win, two end pieces and a center piece-and it must be long enough to pass around and comfortably support the abdomen. The center piece should not extend upward beyond the two end pieces, because if it does so the beneficial effect of the belt will be 1ost-that is to say, the center piece will not in that case support the abdomen, but will merely press upon and flatten the stomach. It should be made mainly of a nonelastic material-such, for instance, as corded silkwitha gusset of elastic material let into each length. The center length must be and is connected to the two side lengths by suit able fastenings, by which the belt itself can also be regulated so as to fit the abdomen. In order to prevent the belt rising above the required position in front, I provide two retaining-hooks, one at each side of the front of the lower end of the corset, so as to prevent the belt rising above them.

Referring to my drawings, Figure 1 represents a front view of my invention on the person of the wearer. Fig. 2 also represents a front view of myinvention on the person, but with the belt unfastened. Fig. 3 represents a back view of my invention.

A is the non-elastic material of the belt; B, the elastic gussets; C, the laces, and D the retaining-hooks on the lower part of the front of the corset.

E E are the strips of Whalebone, and G G the gussets for the hips.

I am aware that other inventions of a som ewhat similar character have been invented before, but not one that effects the main object of my invention, which is to support the abdomen and direct the pressure arising from such belts onto the sacrum.-

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is- As a new article of manufacture, a combined corset and abdominal belt, consisting of a corset having its back extending to and terminating at the lowest point of the sacrum and its front provided with hooks, and an abdominal belt made in three parts, the two side parts being sewed on opposite sides of the back to the part of the corset which covers the back of the hips in line with the sacrum, and being provided with elastic gores, and the central part provided with means whereby it may be attached to the forward ends of said side parts, adapted to engage said hooks to prevent the rising of the same, and provided with an elastic gore, the said belt overlying the outside of said corset from its points of attachment around to the front, and serving to support the abdomen from the sacrum.

ELIZABETH MERRILLEES. WVitnesses:

EDWARD WATERS EDWARD WATERS, Jr. 

